MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Held in The Nicholls Hall
Tuesday 15th June 2003
1. Present:
Mr S Powne (Chairman): Mrs P Martyn (Vice-Chairman): Mrs L Cole: Mrs R Baker: Mrs K Boyd: Mrs S Holland: Mr P Fletcher: Mr DG Evans (Clerk)
Parishioners in attendance: Mrs N McMullen: Mrs M Harris Others in attendance: Cllr R Williamson
2. Apologies for absence:
None received
3. Parishioners time:
Mrs McMullen enquired if Highways would be attending the proposed Public Meeting regarding Affordable Housing. Mr Powne responded that they had been invited but as yet no response has been received..
4. Minutes of the previous meeting:
4.1 The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 20th May 2003 were signed as a true and accurate record.
5. Matters arising:
5.1 Village information leaflet and dedicated web site - Mr Powne explained why the previously agreed presentation had been deleted. He then offered the subject out to the members for open discussion and for comments as to how the PC could support local businesses. He asked that thought be given to the anticipated expenditure and if it represented good value for the parishioners, who ultimately would finance it. After considerable discussion it was unanimously agreed that the Village Information Leaflet should be dropped as members felt the cost, even after grant funding, could not be justified. The members then compared the two tenders for the setting up of a dedicated web site. After lengthy discussion it was proposed by Mrs Cole and seconded by Mrs Martin that the contract should be awarded to Hepworth Associates. This was unanimously agreed. The clerk was requested to liase with this company to enable a Lydford Parish Council web site to be set up as soon as possible. The clerk was also requested to advise the loosing tenderer accordingly.
5.2 The Triangle - Mr Powne detailed the meeting he and the clerk had recently had with Tony Halse (DNPA) and Colin Hicks (Highways) at The Triangle to discuss improvements. He circulated a plan showing the proposals and the costs. DNPA in conjunction with Highways will carry out the enhancements providing the PC can supply 30 tonnes of soil and are prepared to contribute £70 towards the costs. It was unanimously agreed to proceed with this work and to contribute £70 towards the cost.
5.3 Affordable Housing - Mr Powne stated that a date for the Public Meeting had been fixed for Wednesday 9th July at The Nicholls Hall commencing at 7.00pm. In attendance will be; Stuart Davis Chief Executive West Devon Homes - Graham Wall Head of Planning DNPA - John Packer/Marion Pyle WDBC Housing and, hopefully, a representative from DCC Highways. It was agreed that this would be advertised in the Parish Magazine and the notice boards. It was also agreed that questions would be invited prior to the meeting enabling those invited to be fully prepared and to invite DNPA and WDBC (Housing) to give a short presentation before receiving questions. It was also agreed to prepare an agenda that would be displayed on notice boards and distributed to all attendees on the night. Mr Powne agreed to chair the meeting. The clerk was requested to advise the local press of the meeting. Finally, it was agreed that all members would meet at the hall at 6.00pm on the night.
5.4 Jubilee seat - Concern was expressed that the proposed site for this seat is outside of Lydford Parish. Mr Powne agreed to contact Graham Cornish (DCC) to discuss this concern. Mrs Martyn presented quotes for the supply of plaques for the Armillary, Flagpole and Jubilee seat at a cost of £46 each. It was agreed to await the outcome of Mr Powne's conversation with Graham Cornish and the size of the contribution expected from the PC.
5.5 Dog Fouling - Mrs Baker stated that she has received complaints from several parishioners regarding the activities of an owner of three dogs. It was agreed to ascertain the name of the person, his address is already known, and advise Mrs Holland who, in turn, will seek support from the Dog Warden to eradicate this problem.
5.6 Home Guard seat outside West Grange - Mr Powne explained that Colin Hicks of WDBC had viewed the site and taken photographs. He has also agreed to investigate with Land Registry regarding the validity of ownership of the verge and pavement. The clerk was requested to write to DCC requesting why they have sold off the pavement and, if this is correct, who is now responsible for Public Liability and future maintenance? A site plan, obtained from Land Registry, and supplied by a parishioner was shown. The clerk was requested to keep this on file for future use.
6. Receive report from Councillors on respective outside bodies:
6.1 DNPA - Next meeting October
6.2 Police Authority - Mrs Boyd stated that the meeting was scheduled for tonight. After consultation with the Chairman she had not attended.
6.3 Board of School Governors - Mr Powne read out a report received from Mrs Barkell.
6.4 Southern Link Committee - The meeting held last week was attended by Mrs Martyn and Mrs Cole. They reported that WDBC is shortly to open five sites where plastic milk bottles can be re-cycled. They also reported that the Police had stated that several new Community Constables would be appointed. As yet the name of the Constable responsible for Lydford was not known. The clerk was requested to write to Tavistock Police requesting this information.
6.5 WDBC - Cllr R Williamson commented that he had made enquiries, on behalf of the PC, regarding the proposed garage at Bridge House Lodge. He reported that, in his opinion, DNPA had comprised by removing the dormer window facing the road. It was pointed out to Cllr Williamson that a velux window had replaced this and Mrs Holland stated that the construction would be clearly visible from the road. Mr Powne stated that this would be discussed further under planning.
6.6 Nicholls Hall Committee - Mrs Boyd stated that the next meeting would be held on Thursday 17th June.
7. Financial report:
7.1 The clerk circulated a financial report showing the following balances: Current account - £139.89 Deposit account - £5,070.58 Petty cash - £4.32 The following payments were authorised - D Evans Clerk Honorarium £208.86 - D Evans expenses £37.00 - Toilet cleaning £75 - Cornhill Insurance £33.60 - D Evans Remuneration increase backdated to April £26.10 Transfer of £500 from Deposit to Current.
8. Items raised at May meeting for inclusion on June agenda:
8.1 Hedges and trees fronting main road outside Hartswood Farm - The clerk was requested to contact Bob Temlett to ascertain ownership and responsibility for these trees which, it is considered, are causing a hazard. The clerk was also requested to ask Mr Temlett to deal with the hedge opposite Downtown Farm.
8.2 Parking of cars from Greystones to Luxmoor - The clerk was requested to contact the Police and ask if they would talk to the owners and advise them to park at the rear of these properties, as they have done previously.
8.3 Right to Roam - The clerk was requested to respond regarding the omission of Fernworthy Down (Forest?) from the definitive map as this has an existing right of access.
9. Correspondence:
9.1 Municipal Waste Management - It was unanimously agreed to respond, stating that, in the opinion of the members, the Council are targeting the wrong sector. More emphasis must be placed on manufactures and retailers to cut down on packaging of products.
9.2 Community Planning Seminar - Mr Powne agreed to represent this Council at this seminar.
9.3 A letter was received from Mrs B Champkin requesting the support of the Parish Council in her quest to extend the Post Office and Store to provide additional space for an off-licence and other goods. The letter is required to support her efforts in attaining grant funding from Vital Villages and DEFRA. It was unanimously agreed to send a letter pledging the full support of this Council in her venture.
9.4 A letter from the Reverend Ian Sykes was received in which he states that he has spoken to the mother of Andrew Kelly, who was killed in the recent war in Iraq, regarding his name being added to the village war memorial. He reports that his mother would be very pleased if this was carried out. The clerk was requested to organise this and to attain quotes for the work. It is hoped that this can be added in time for the Remembrance Service in November.
9.5 A letter from Mr & Mrs Clarke was received complaining about traffic speed through the village. It was agreed to place this item onto the July agenda and the clerk was requested to write to them ascertaining if they would be prepared to take on the role of co-ordinators for the "Driving Speeds Down in Devon" campaign.
10. Planning applications:
10.1 Highdown - No objections were received to the proposal to demolish the existing house or to the proposed plans for the new dwelling.
10.2 Mucky Duck - The letter detailing the objections to this proposal is attached to these minutes.
10.3 Gorse Hills - Garden room extension - No objections were received to this proposal.
10.4 Spring House - Extension to side of bungalow, conservatory to rear elevation, summerhouse in garden, replace two flat roofs with pitch tiled roofs and erection of stable block to end of garden with hayloft over - No objections were received to this work, except for the stable block. The stable block is considered to be far to big for the area it is proposed to site it in. Members also queried how horses would access it as the only possible route appeared to be through the garden. Concern has also being expressed by a neighbour regarding the size and position of the stable block and regarding drainage.
10.5 Bridge House lodge - Garage with store over - It was announced that despite objections from this council DNPA had passed the proposal with the only amendment being the removal of the dormer window facing the road, it being replaced by a velux window. The clerk was requested to write to DNPA expressing disappointment with this decision and to seek confirmation that the finish of the external walls of the garage will be in stone as stated in the "Grant of Conditional Planning Permission".
11. Items raised for inclusion on the July agenda.
11.1 Traffic speed through the village
14. Date of next meeting:
14.1 The date of Tuesday July 15th was agreed for the next meeting.
Their being no further business the meeting was formally closed by the Chair at 10.20pm.
DG Evans Clerk to the Parish Council ........................................................................19 June 2003
Signed as a true and accurate record .Date .
(Mr S Powne - Chairman)